FIGHT! Rankings: Jon Jones, Jake Ellenberger Crack Our Top 10

At FIGHT! Magazine, we believe there is a need for a completely objective and unbiased ranking system for fighters to replace the myriad subjective rankings that have become skewed, in many instances, by fighter popularity. In an effort to address this issue FIGHT! Magazine brings you its computerized rankings system which takes into account a fighters strength of opponent, strength of performance, and frequency of activity.

If there was any doubt that Jon Jones is a top-10 talent it was erased by his first round demolition of solid veteran Vladimir Matyushenko. Jones moves from #11 to #8 in our Light Heavyweight Rankings, while “The Janitor” falls from #18 to #21. In the card’s only other bout contested at 205 pounds, previously unranked Igor Pokrajac enters our poll at #38 with his win over James Irvin, who drops from #33 to #51.

In the co-main event, Yushin Okami clawed his way closer to title contention with a split decision win over Mark Munoz. Okami gains ground from #20 to #13 in our Middleweight Rankings, while Munoz falls from #18 to #24. In the night’s other 185-pound bouts, Brian Stann made a successful middleweight debut against previously unranked Mike Massenzio and Rob Kimmons squeaked by Steve Steinbeiss. Stann moves from #65 to #53 and Massenzio enters our rankings at #90, while Kimmons stays put at #82 and Steinbeiss drops one spot from #95 to #96.

In welterweight action, Jake Ellenberger jumped from #18 to #9 in our rankings when the doctor stopped his match with John Howard, who falls from #19 to #37. In the night’s other welterweight bouts, Matthew Riddle defeated DaMarques Johnson to debut at #30 after being reassigned from middleweight. Johnson falls from #31 to #60. The third welterweight fight, Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira, featured no ranked fighters.

The fight that likely had more impact on its contestants’ career trajectories than any other was Takanori Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin. Gomi looked good, knocking Griffin out in 64 seconds, vaulting from #40 to #16 in our Lightweight Rankings, and probably saving his job. Griffin falls hard from #19 to #53. Jacob Volkmann also made a major move, jumping from #80 to #37 with his win over Paul Kelly, who slides from #33 to #69.